Outgoing President Barack Obama pardoned 78 convicts and commuted the sentences of another 153, many of whom were drug traffickers, in the largest number of clemencies granted by a president in one day on Monday.

Of the variety of crimes committed by the criminals receiving clemency, many are drug trafficking—manufacturing and selling illicit drugs including crack cocaine, heroin, and more. Thousands of dollars in fines owed were also excused.

The announcement came only days after the Center for Disease Control revealed deaths from legal and illegal opioid and prescription drug overdoses hit 33,091 in 2015, and deaths from illegal synthetic opioids spiked 72 percent in a single year.

“With today’s 153 commutations, the President has now commuted the sentences of 1,176 individuals, including 395 life sentences. The President also granted pardons to 78 individuals, bringing his total number of pardons to 148. Today’s acts of clemency — and the mercy the President has shown his 1,324 clemency recipients — exemplify his belief that America is a nation of second chances,” the White House boasts.

The White House does not explain why any of the 231 individuals who received clemency deserved a “second chance,” simply saying they had “led a productive and law-abiding post-conviction life,” or merely “made the most of his or her time in prison.”

6 comments

“The White House does not explain why …” No explanation necessary. It’s another vessel to destabilize and destroy the USA’s nationalism. Civil unrest is being elevated intentionally. Europe and USA are being destroyed from within, providing a path for global governance.

Obama is a criminal. These felons distributed narcotics into our communities and are responsible for untold civil destruction and countless deaths of Americans. They were tried, convicted and jailed in the name of the people and this criminal loving sack of garbage sees fit to arbitrarily set them free just because he says so. This is a power that needs to be stripped away from the office of president. Does anyone know if this is even legal? Does he have the constitutional authority to do this? I do not see how he has the legal power to deny justice to the American people on a whim.

The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States; he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.

He does have the power to do it, and the only way you can get rid of that power is with a constitutional amendment. But, I would oppose such an amendment. The Founders were wise men, and they put that power of pardon and reprieve there for a reason, just as the states grant a similar constitutional power to their governors, to grant clemency and pardons. It is a safety valve, to allow the executive to step in and release people, when they determine that an injustice has been done. Yes, it is being used by Obama to let lose drug dealers, but think about what can be done by President Trump with this power. For example, he could pardon anyone convicted in connection to the righteous stand at Bundy Ranch – and there have already been patriots who have taken plea deals in relation to that stand, and many more still facing trial. Clearly, those prosecutions, begun under Obama, are revenge for the black eye the Obama Admin took. Trump could wipe all that out with the stroke of a pen. Don’t you want him to do that? I sure do. And that is why I agree with the Founders that this is a power the President should have. It allows justice to be done in particular cases. And I would also like to see President Trump do the same with the prosecutions and upcoming trials of the rest of the defendants from the Malheur Wildlife Reserve occupation. Yes, it was a fiasco, but I see no reason those people should rot in prison. Trump should order his new AG to simply drop the charges on the remaining, but if any of them are still prosecuted and convicted, then we should pressure Trump to pardon them. Don’t be in a big hurry to monkey around with the Founders’ design.

Abuse? Abuse is the failed WoD and the decades long incarceration of non-violent offenders. Our government has, and is, complicit in the introduction of drugs and the incarceration of dealers and users of IT’S product. It also benefits well by declaring it all illegal. C’mon, really? The hate for Obama is really so annoying it is like a fresh scab? He’s gone. Thank Nature’s God. Drug sentencing disparities are not fiction worthy of even fact checking. I would applaud him, but he is being really minimal. But, of course, OK seems to be a blue line organization. I’ve wanted to join for my military service, my Oath, and the fact that it aligns with your 10 point plan. But, I can’t get behind this. The P.I.C. is just as huge as the M.I.C. There is nothing wong with getting these individuals out of a for profit system.

Mr Rhodes…Thank you for pointing that out. I guess I see your point. I still see this as an abuse of power though. These people were not wrongly convicted for standing up for the constitution. They distributed deadly poison to our citizens and children for profit and this guy is letting them out to do it all over again. That’s just wrong no matter how you slice it.